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Justice News

Four D.C. Men Indicted for String of Armed Robberies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four Washington, D.C. residents for their alleged roles in 19 separate armed robberies in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

According to allegations in the indictment, from Nov. 1, 2016 to April 12, Desmar Rashad Gayles, Andrew Bernard Duncan, Anton Durrell Harris, and Lamont Kortez Gaines committed a total of 19 armed robberies of commercial establishments and three carjackings, allegedly using two of the vehicles that they carjacked to commit some of the armed robberies. In ten of the armed robberies, the defendants used an Intratec 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. That firearm was recovered in Harris’ residence on April 13 with the extended magazine fully loaded and a round in the chamber.

Name, Age

Hometown

Charges (#)

Max Penalty

Desmar Rashad Gayles, 25

Washington, D.C.

Conspiracy (1)

Armed robbery (6)

Carjacking (1)

Brandishing firearm during crime of violence (7)

Life

Andrew Bernard Duncan, 26

Washington, D.C.

Conspiracy (1)

Armed robbery (10)

Brandishing firearm during crime of violence (10) Felon in possession of a firearm (3)

Life

Anton Durrell Harris, 27

Washington, D.C.

Conspiracy (1)

Armed robbery (6)

Brandishing firearm during crime of violence (6) Felon in possession of a firearm (4)

Life

Lamont Kortez Gaines, 27

Washington, D.C.

Conspiracy (1)

Armed robbery (5)

Carjacking (1)

Brandishing firearm during crime of violence (6) Felon in possession of a firearm (5)

Life

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police; M. Jay Farr, Arlington County Chief of Police; Michael L. Brown, Alexandria Chief of Police; Charles L. Owens, Bladensburg Chief of Police; and Henry P. Stawinski III, Prince George’s County Chief of Police, made the announcement after the indictment was returned yesterday evening. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca H. Bellows and Alexander Blanchard are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-106.